Right now, the weather in San Carlos de Bariloche is: The Nahuel Huapi National Park (from the araucan language nahuel: tiger, y huapi: island) was created by law N° 12.103 in 1934. It is subject to special protection and conservation rules because of its extraordinary landscape beauty and invaluable richness in autoctone animals and vegetation treasure to preserve it to the future generation .It is located on the SW of Neuquen province and NW of rio Negro province.The whole National Park area is 7120 square kilometers, of this 3300sq km belong to the National Reserve which must remain untouched. FLORA and FAUNA of Nahuel Huapi National Park: The National Park may be divided in different areas with similar natural life. One of them can be represented by the lakes with its rich fish local variety such as the Perch and Creole trout and foreign species such as salmons, rainbow trout, and brown trout, a real paradise for sport fishermen. These fishes eat small crabs, penoreas and other tiny water animals. Another characterist area is represent by the subantartic forest with local species of Cypress and Nothofagus (Coihue). In some wet areas there are small forests of Arrayán, Patagua and Palo Santo(trees with smooth cold bark). Next to the Chilean border is located the Valdivian forest with leafy thick vegetation. In the Port Blest area we can find large specimens of Coihue, Mañiú, Laurel and larch tree with lianas, such as Pahueldín or Pilpi Voqui. In the grove forest we can find bamboo like canes called Colihue and fern. The local mammals are rare and scarce, these are: local deer called Pudú and Huemul, Puma and Huillín (patagonic nutria). There are larger quantities of bird and it is very common to see Macá or Huala, seagulls, Cauquenes, Banduriras, and the singing birds Fio-Fio and Chucao. in summer in certain marsh land and bog there are some species of insects mostly small mosquitoes. To the east we can find the steep area with its characteristic halfdome thorn bushes called Neneo. In this drier area it is easier to see different animals such as guanacos and different rapacious birds. At last we have the high mountain area covered with snow most time of the year filled with beautiful flowers and small birds. Nahuel Huapi National Park TOPOGRAPHY:its highest elevations are on the west in the Andes mountain chain, then slowly lowering to the east into the patagonic plateau. The highest mountains mark the border with Chile, the highest mountain in the region is Tronador (3.554 metros above sea level), it is called in this way after the thundering sound that is so common when huge snow and ice block tear apart and fall into the glacier. We can also list some other mountains which highest are between 1800 and 2400 meters above sea level: Crespo, Cuyín Manzano, Campana, Millaqueo, Capilla, López and Catedral. Deep valleys called pasos allow the crossing through the Andes to Chile. Mostly known are: Puyehue, Pérez Rosales and los Vuriloches. To the east are the hills: Otto, Ventana, Cordón del Ñirihuau, etc. The Valle Encantado (enchanted valley) offers a fantastic landscape with old rock ablations by rain and wind forming nice and unique formations such as: Dedo de Dios (god's finger), el Castillo (the castle) or the Penitente (Penitent). There are many lakes and rivers in the region that drain their waters to the Atlantic or the Pacific ocean. These are glacier lakes. The most important lake is the Nahuel Huapi (6000 sq. km), which gives the name to the park. In this lake there are many islands: the biggest is Victoria island, (31 sq. km). The lake has very winding coast line with many peninsulas and bays. The most important peninsulas are: Quetrihué, Llao Llao, San Pedro and Huemul. |
